Comparison

Addictive Pro vs spectwhirl

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Addictive Pro

This app offers a powerful hybrid synthesis engine for creating complex and dynamic sounds. Explore wavetable, noise, virtual analog, and FM synthesis with extensive modulation and effects. It includes a polyrhythm arpeggiator and real-time control options for musical inspiration and sound design.

Highlights
  • Hybrid synthesis engine
  • Wavetable spectrum synthesis
  • Virtual Analog synthesis
  • Polyrhythm Arpeggiator
  • Real-time parameter control
  • Studio-standard effects section
  • AudioUnit Instrument support
Read full description

The hybrid synthesis algorithm on which Addictive Pro is based provides you with efficient means for easy control of complex sounds far beyond usual sound synthesis methods: Addictive Pro provides you a with unique form of Wavetable oscillators. These Wavetables are generated from the harmonic content and the free digital filter structure entered by the user. The sound of up to 12 of this Wavetable oscillators is then further refined with a classic analog filter available in several 24dB and 12dB forms. For the optional noise part of the sound you can use the same sophisticated digital filter struct as for the wavetable oscillators allowing for a vast variety of ever changing noisescapes. The intelligent sound and rhythm randomizer can be applied to different sound aspects separately for really useful sound design and inspiration. A four part polyrhythm Arpeggiator creates complex rhythmical structures with a touch of a finger. Features: Hybrid synthesis engine • Wavetable spectrum synthesis • Noise spectrum synthesis • Virtual Analog synthesis • FM and Ringmodulation synthesis Synthesizer details • Twelve wavetable spectrum oscillators per voice. • Morphing between two wave/filter sets. • Waves contain up to 256 partials. • Hand drawn filter structure. • Spectral noise generator using hand drawn filter structure. • Ten major sound parameters each with independent poly LFO and envelope modulators. • Real time parameter control using two X/Y touch pads, the tilt sensors of the iPad and MIDI Controllers.  • Monophonic or polyphonic with up to 16 voices. • 300 factory presets, unlimited user presets can be shared.  Effect section • Seven studio standard effects concurrently usable: • Oversampled distortion with four different algorithms for antialiased sound. • Low / High equalizer • 8 pole analog Phaser • Flanger • Four line chorus • Stereo/Ping-Pong delay with glitch free delay time change. • Hi end reverberation unit.   Four part Polyrhythm Arpeggiator • Uses programmable sequences with up to 32 steps.  • Can trigger single notes and chords. • Unique randomizer generates Arpeggios with 100% usability. • Factory arpeggios included, unlimited user arpeggios possible. • For each step you can program tie, accent, transposition and note order Global • Play melodies live with the onscreen keyboard. Unique drag function for slides and vibrato. • AudioUnit Instrument • Audiobus 2 with state saving • Inter App Audio • Ableton Link support • Can use CoreMIDI compatible MIDI Keyboard. • Select from dozens of scales and play them with scale optimized keyboard layout. • Audio recorder with share function. • Share user presets. • Support for virtual MIDI input connections. • Multichannel MIDI Learn for external MIDI controllers. • Ableton Link compatible. • MIDI Tempo sync. Start/Stop Arpeggio. • MIDI bank/program change. • Import function for Addictive Synth presets. • File sharing of presets via iTunes possible

About

spectwhirl

This audio effect app transforms input sound into new textures and bell-like tones by extracting and manipulating sinewave components. It offers advanced control over delay lines, frequency shifting, and filtering, with gesture recording for parameter automation.

Highlights
  • Sinewave component extraction and grouping
  • Delay lines with feedback
  • Frequency shifter and sample-and-hold effects
  • Configurable filtering
  • Gesture recording for automation
  • Scene saving and management
Features
Read full description

"bells and whistles, literally" spectwhirl is a hybrid spectral audio effect. It can extract and rearrange sinewave components from input signal to make new sound textures and bell-like sounds. * input sound is converted to sinewave components that are divided into 4 groups: harmonic, inharmonic, 12-edo and other * each component is fed into a delay line with feedback * there is a group of frequency shifter and sample-and-hold effects before and after delay lines * each set of sinewave components can be filtered * all the parameters can be instantly automated with gesture recording !!! Please note that this effect consumes much CPU and requires a modern device. ====================== Quick Start: Top row of controls enables different parts of user interface: scenes editor ("scene"), controls switch ("edit") and "zoom" controls When "edit" is switch on, you can show or hide various controls (marked as "ctrl") and switch gesture recording automation for some of them (marked with ">") Main control surface displays sonogram with tracked elements. Colors are set accordingly to the group they are assigned (red-orange-green-blue are for harmonic, inharmonic, 12-edo and others). Each "lane" contains delay time controls. * Triangle facing left is for the start locator, it determines initial delay time * Square moves both start and end locators together * When left locator is first moved you can see the right locator with the same triangle. It shows the end of the selected region, the secondary delay time is determined by the difference between left and right locators * if you drag over the area of the region in a lane, the four-dotted/one circle indicator will change its appearance; this changes the arpeggio mode of the region. If set to leftmost position (one circle) the components go in-sync; if set to maximum value (shown as diagonal line with circles) - components are played sequentially * all settings can be stored as "scene" and multiple scenes can be switched sequentially; there is a set of button to move, add and delete scenes. All scenes will be stored as machine state; it can be exported / imported as a single file or as separate file with current scene in the "setup" view The standalone version always starts with output level set to -70 dB to avoid feedback

Screenshots

spectwhirl4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Addictive Pro at 4.7 against spectwhirl's 4.0. Addictive Pro also leads on review sentiment (75% vs 33%) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 weeks). spectwhirl's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and price ($4.99 vs $5.99). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Addictive Pro costs $5.99 and spectwhirl $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Addictive Pro holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 19 and 5 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of Addictive Pro's written reviews are positive against 33% of spectwhirl's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Addictive Pro ships an update every 2 weeks, spectwhirl every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Addictive Pro versus spectwhirl: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAddictive Prospectwhirl
Price$5.99$4.99 — better
Rating4.7 (19 ratings) — better4.0 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews — better33.3% of reviews
Number of ratings19 — better5
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS12.012.0
Further details — not scored
Size58 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHarry GohsAlexey Nadzharov

Customer experience

Addictive Pro

All ratings18 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral11.1%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews32 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral6.3%
Negative18.8%

spectwhirl

All ratings5 ratings
Positive60.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral33.3%
Negative33.3%

In-app purchases

None

Addictive Pro

No in-app purchases

None

spectwhirl

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Addictive Pro free?
Addictive Pro costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is spectwhirl free?
spectwhirl costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Addictive Pro or spectwhirl?
Addictive Pro is rated higher. Addictive Pro averages 4.7 out of 5 from 19 ratings, while spectwhirl averages 4.0 from 5 ratings.
Do Addictive Pro or spectwhirl have ads?
Neither Addictive Pro nor spectwhirl shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Addictive Pro or spectwhirl?
Addictive Pro ships an update every 2 weeks, and spectwhirl every 5 weeks. Most recently, Addictive Pro was updated on November 2, 2026 and spectwhirl on November 3, 2026.

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